A hotel manageress yesterday repeatedly denied that jealousy and anger drove her to push a policewoman who had ended up in bed with her and her chiropractor boyfriend.

Hazel Tempest told Birmingham Crown Court that it was "not in her character" to be angry or aggressive and that she had no reason to feel jealous as she was in a stable relationship.

The 27-year-old is charged with assaulting Louise Flanagin, aged 22, in May last year after the policewoman suffered cuts when she fell through a glass door.

Tempest denies assault and claims she only pushed Miss Flanagin because she thought she was about to be attacked and "wanted her out of her personal space".

The alleged assault occurred after she found the policewoman at her boyfriend Dr Matthew Hunter's house in Sutton Coldfield.

Tempest, from Streetly in Walsall, had been seeing Dr Hunter, a married chiropractor and father-of-two who was separated from his wife, for more than three years.

She had a key to the property but the inner door was locked when she arrived back from dinner with friends, a fact she said was very unusual.

Dr Hunter, aged 33, who was having drinks with Miss Flanagin, had also telephoned her earlier that evening to see if she would be returning that night, she told the court.

Asked how she viewed her boyfriend's relationship with Miss Flanagin, the 27-year-old said: "Matt and my relationship is that of intimate lovers. Between Matt and Louise, I understood there to be friendship."

She said she had sat with the pair and drunk two rum and cokes before retiring to bed, after offering to call and even pay for a taxi for the policewoman to return home.

Dr Hunter, however, invited the 22-year-old to stay the night and it was Tempest who spoke to the woman's mother to confirm this was happening.

She said she then went to bed in the room she normally shared with her boyfriend, who soon followed, but that Miss Flanagin had climbed in as well after the bedroom light was turned off.

Miss Flanagin, realising her mistake, stormed downstairs and the three ended up in the kitchen where Tempest claims the policewoman starting shouting at her about her relationship with Dr Hunter.

The hotel manageress said Miss Flanagin was "very angry" and that she felt like she was going to be attacked.

She admitted pushing the policewoman away but denied that it was a "hard push".

She told the court: "It was not what she said, it was the way she said it and the close proximity. She was in my face telling me 'who the hell do you think you are'."

Tim Sapwell, prosecuting, put it to Tempest that she had reacted out of jealousy and resentment at the way Miss Flanagan had invaded her relationship with Dr Hunter but she repeatedly denied that was the case. She said: "I did not feel like there was any other option for me."

Tempest said it was not unusual for her boyfriend to take out women on evenings when she was not available and that he was a bit of a "playboy" who had an "eye for a skirt".

She claimed, however, that their relationship was strong and secure and that she had no reason to feel jealous.

Tempest also said that she and Dr Hunter were still together, although he was currently in America.